Sir Roger Bannister, who in 1954 became the first man to run a mile in under four minutes and went on to become a distinguished neurologist says: “the order of things I am proud of is: No. 1 marriage, No. 2 family and children, No 3 medicine and No. 4 sport.” Perhaps his words may strike a chord and give comfort to all those who endeavour to win medals at various games worldwide for priorities are important. A gold medal is a great thing but marriage, family and a career are all infinity precious, probably more so.
The medals come whilst we are relatively young and our ambitions are fierce and overwhelming. As we mature we realise there is life after the track, the pool and the gymnasium. Sport has taken on a disproportionate value in modern society, and those involved in it may well understand that. The lure of fame is almost irresistible. It stalks all avenues of life: to be famous and rich seems to predominate teenage years; the quickest way to the top is the attraction to many. Unfortunately often the quickest risers are the most easily forgotten.
Some of the greatest people of the Bible were often in obscurity for years. Abraham a name most religions know, honour and welcome walked for fifty years with God starting at 75 years old, Joseph languished in servitude and prison for 13 years, Moses walked in a wilderness for 40 years and King David minded sheep in anonymity. If God has a plan, He will bring it in, if you are to succeed you will, whatever the field or discipline. Circumstances are irrelevant, he superintends them. He looks at your priorities, always looks at that. He goes to the core of our life, to the moving of our motives; do we want earth’s or heaven’s gold? Is it the jubilation of this world or the justice of God’s kingdom? Which will last, which will satisfy?
Sir Roger learnt early and walked right, his values soon crystallised, famous for moving fast, more famous for helping disability in others. For a lasting marriage, for good children, for a career that touched people who hurt. As the years passed his medals could tarnish, but not the lives he touched. The determination that took him through the time barrier also helped those who needed to cross their disordered physical barriers. His knighthood was for more than just running fast.
On 7th August 1954 Bannister ran against Landy who held the world record for the mile having beaten Bannister’s time. Landy led for most of the race, building a lead of 10 yards in the third lap (of four), but was overtaken on the last bend, and Bannister won in 3 min 58.8 s, with Landy 0.8 s behind in 3 min 59.6 s. Bannister and Landy have both pointed out that the crucial moment of the race was that at the moment when Bannister decided to try to pass Landy, Landy looked over his left shoulder to gauge Bannister’s position and Bannister burst past him on the right, never relinquishing the lead.
This is interesting, it was clear that Bannister was a technician who studied his opponent, and his surprise passing on the apparently wrong side flummoxed Landy. Bannister’s life was as a doctor and his sports training was minimal, had he trained properly he would probably have reduced the world record time even more, but winning was sufficient. There is a bronze statue in Vancouver of Landy and Bannister, and Landy quipped “While Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt for looking back, I am probably the only one ever turned into bronze for looking back.” Lot’s wife turned into what she should, have been – salt. We are all called to be salt that is what we are and what we do is shine. Perhaps that is the basis of life in reality. That is the priority. Salt stops putrefaction and seasons; puts taste into dishes, as we put taste into secular life.
Let us not be turned into something metaphorically inanimate because we are not walking in the pursuit of God and those things that matter. Lot’s wife longed for the sin-pots of Sodom for to her these could not have been better years, but it destroyed her. Israel in growing discontent looked back and it cost them 40 years privation, trial and suffering, for Egypt was their prison not their freedom. We need firm ground in slippery places (Psalms 26:1) “Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.” God is willing to put salt on the ice if we are willing to exercise integrity.
